Folding crate



April 14, 1931. LE VERN B. WISE 1,800,580

FOLDING CRATE Filed Dec. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet vl 1. l 3 7 I/ I J 1Inventor .Zlfifiili"? M By @Zw, n

tiorney April 1- LE VERN B. was 1,800,580

,FOLDING CRATE Filed Dec. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 d a 7 a 11W 1' JL1 g' Inventor A iiomey Patented Apr. 14, 1931 nnrrnn stares PATENT@FFHQE FOLDING CRATE Application filed December 17, 1929. Serial No.414,757.

This invention has reference generally to shipping containers and moreparticularly to a fruit container or crate which can be easily folded,when empty, so that a large number can be shipped in a small crate andwith the smallest possible shipping expense.

further object is to provide a strong, compact structure which willwithstand rough handling and at the same time adequately protect thefruitcontents.

With the above objects in view, the invention consists of the novelconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter morefully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view of the crate in set up or shipping position,

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a bottom view of the crate in folded or collapsed position,and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the folded crate.

The front A, back B, and sides or ends (1 and D, of the crates arepreferably of slatted construction, while the top E and the bottom F areformed of imperforate panel members.

In assembling the units of the crate, the bars of slats 1 of the sidemembers 0 and D have their forward ends inserted between the bars 2 ofthe front member A at opposite ends of the latter and pivotallyconnected to the ends of the front bars 2 by a long rod 3 or other pivotmeans suitable for the purpose in view.

The rear end of the bars 1 are inserted loosely between the bars 4 ofthe back mem- 49 her B and are suitably fastened, as at 5 within areinforcing channel iron 6 which serves to strengthen as well as toconnect the ends of the side bars for preventing the displacement of theback member.

Similar reinforcing irons are employed to connect the ends of the barsof the back memher, as shown at 7 and 8, and to reinforce the ed es ofthe bottom panel as shown at 9.

The front, back and side members are constructed with an equal number ofbars but are so connected that the bars of the side members overlap andare supported on the bars of the front and back members.

The topmost bar of the back member B has secured thereto a forwardlyprojecting and longitudinally extending grip 10 of a width approximatingor slightly exceeding the combined thickness of the front and bottommembers A and B respectively. This strip has its surface flush with theupper face of the topmost slat or bar and to the forward edge of thestrip is connected, by a loose hinge connection 11, the panel top E.

The panel bottom F is connected directly to the two lowermost bars ofthe back me1nher by a loose hinge connection 12 which spaces the bottommember from the back member a distance exceeding a thickness of thefront member only.

In the shifting or set up position of the crate, the free end of thepanel top is supported on the topmost bar of the front member which baris cut out as shown at 13 to permit the top member to lie flush with thesurface of the bar, and the free end of the panel bottom is supported onthe lowermost bar of the front member.

lVhen the crate is filled, the weight of the contents will fold down thepanel bottom and the latter is provided near its free edge Q with adepending lug or abutment lip presenting a fiat side bearing against thelowermost bar of the front member to hold the same in position; thepanel bottom bein much smaller in thickness than the width or the spacebetween the front bars 2 so that it has sufiicient vertical play betweenthe bars to raise the lug clear of the lowermost bar, preparatory tofolding the crate.

The top E has a hingedly anchored hasp 9O 15 which engages over a staple16 on one of the front bars 2 to permit the top to be sealed by apadlock.

To fold the crate from a set up position, the same is first turned torest upon the front member A and the side members are grasped at theends 6 and lifted; the hinge bottom member F being pushed in, ifnecessary, to disengage the lug 14 from the front member n A which islifted upwardly with the side back member.

The back member is upheld by the hinged it top andbottom members duringthe lifting of the front-and side members and the weight I V of the topmembers upon the top and bottom 7 members causes the flatter to fold upunder their rear ends inserted loosely between the V L adjacent ends ofthe bars of the back units,

a reinforcing member connecting the rearv 1 ends of the bars of eachunit, a bottom-forming panel hingedly connected'to a bottom bar of thesaid backunit with itsiree end nor- 7 mally adapted to be 'suppo'rted onthe lowerthe'back member when thelatter lowered most barof the frontunit; abutment means I qby the reverse or downwardmovement of the sidesand front member-melee that the parts;

are eventually foldedi'n the manner shown in V Figure 4, 'withthe frontmember confined be tween the back and'bottom members and the I bottommember confined between "the front f and top members; the side membersbeing;

' disposed in relatively overlapping engage"- ment above the backmember; 1'

can be folded into a compact form, making It will thus be seen thattheinvention provides an improved folda'ble crate which can becheaplyconstructed ofjwood and metal or other material, if desired andwhich possible the pac'king'and storing of a considerable number'ofempty {crates within a small space.

Although thefor'egoing' has reference to a on said panel for engagingsaid lowermost bar,v and a top-forml lg panel hingedly confree end uponthe topmost barofthe front unit,js aid bottom panel being'facedoutwardly from the back unit so as to be ffoldable over" the front unitfor confining same between the back and bottom units in the foldedposition of the parts, and said'top panels being spaced outwardly from.said back units so as-to be foldab-l'eover the saidbottom panel.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LE VERNB. WISE.

crateof slatted constructiomit'will be understood that the-inventionissusceptibleof being applied also we crat'ein which the crate-formingunits are composed of solid rather than slotted'members.

' Having thus described my-i nvention,"what Iclaim as new is 1. Afoldable, crate'lcomprisinga 7 forming unit, a top-forming unit carriedby the back-forming unit; a bottom-forming unit also carried-bysaid-b'ack formi'ng unit, r V a front-forming. unit uponwhich the 'freeends of-the'saidtop and bottom-forming units are respectively supported,said front-form-v ing-"unitsbeing slidable inwardly along'the top and.bottom-forming units for disposal againsttheback-forming unit-in thefolded position of the crate 'andsaid top and bottomforming units 'beingrespectively hinged to, j 'theback-forming units-seas to'bring inward--'5 ly in relatively overlapping relation for confining the saidfront-forming units between the back forming units and the overlapping 7top andbottomunits, means-carried by the v i by said top and-bottomforming unitsflfor engag ing and retaining the said front units "inplace when the crate is in set up position, and

side forming'unitsslidable through thesaid back-forming units andpivotally connected to the said front formingjunits,said back andside-forming 'units' "being respectively pro- L i 7' i V jvided withmutual abutment portions preventing-disconnection ofthe units. 2; Afoldable 'cratehaving' a front; back and side units formed of slottedconstruction andre'lativelydisposedwith therbarsof the 1 .side unitsinserted at their forward ends be v p U tween and pivotally' connected"to adjacent end 9f the ars of the frontunits and having V I: V

